Do You Need A Life Coach?

What’s a professional sports team without an experienced leader behind the bench? Better yet, imagine an amateur hockey team without the same guidance. No matter what the level of play is, if you want to succeed you need a coach.

Should living life be any different?

what is a life coach?

A life coach is not a psychiatrist. He is someone who will help improve your personal and/or professional life by offering support and encouragement while suggesting new ways to achieve your goals. A life coach is more of a partnership than anything else. It is a support system with one goal in mind: improving your quality of life.

The idea of a life coach is nothing new. Walk into any dojo, whether it is for karate or meditation, and the concept of sensei and unsui are immediately instilled in the student’s mind. Very much like the ancient teachings, in life, there are always those who have walked the path before you and those who will walk the path after you. This is the principal ideology behind life coaching.

certified help

A life coach will ideally have a substantial amount of experience and education in his own field, as well as the required coaching certifications. Certification assures that high standards are set while reinforcing professional coaching as a distinct and self-regulating profession.

Whether your coach is degreed, certified or not, be sure that he has a winning track record before pulling out your checkbook.

what does a life coach do?

Professional coaches, through a partnership with the client, are there to help produce positive results, whether in their professional or personal lives. They help people perform better and ultimately improve the quality of their lives.

In most cases, a life coach is required when the person is in a transition phase and needs support for any of the following reasons:

Reassessing life goals and developing action plans

Lack of balance between work and life

Difficulty dealing with stressful situations

Difficulty making life decisions

Prioritizing projects and timelines

Improving relationships

Urgent situations involving high risks or challenges

Identifying core strengths and maximizing their potential

Simplifying life to reduce stress and increase productivity

Help with time management

Lack of control over life

Trained to listen, observe and customize an approach to the client’s needs, the coach will work to find solutions and strategies that will help the individual out of the rut they are in.

why it works

Unlike other forms of self-help or therapy, life coaching offers a new look on basic human needs. Partnership, support and know-how are areas that distinguish life coaching from other therapies.

Partnership

Tiger Woods, at the top of his game, still works on improving his skills. For this, he relies on his coach to make sure he still has the edge. A similar bond exists between the life coach and the client.

Support

Individuals are better able to make big decisions when they have the support of friends, family, peers, or a life coach. With a life coach a client is more comfortable taking bigger strides to getting the job done and making the appropriate changes toward a better life.

Still not sure where you fit in? A cross examination of life coaching and therapy…